History shows that most major events unfold slowly and then happen all of a sudden. The start of 2020 will continue the current trends that we are witnessing right now. This includes the slow and steady ascension of sophisticated technology, global connectivity, an aging population in the workforce and a confluence of other factors that will enhance existing trends and bring about big, new changes.
These changes will happen industry by industry and you won’t even know what’s happening until it comes for your job.
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What we are actually seeing is that AI is being aggressively deployed by investment banks, law and accounting firms, hospitals and major corporations to displace white-collar professionals. This is just the beginning stages of this dire trend. If your job can be replaced by AI, it will. You will then be forced into scrambling for a new career.
The Rise of the Gig Economy
In the last decade, the workforce has changed in ways many business professionals never could have imagined. The ubiquity of smart devices and internet connectivity means that more companies than ever are hiring from a national, and even global, talent pool, as people can do their jobs from anywhere in the world.
The trend has been for companies to relocate jobs to the cheapest locations. It starts with moving from a costly city, like New York, to a lower-cost state. Then, the jobs go to other countries, such as India, and some African countries; and will be ultimately moved around to where the corporations could find the cheapest labor that can’t yet be done by computers.
As the gig economy becomes mainstream, corporations will realize that there is little need to maintain expensive corporate offices, pay benefits and bear the burden of full-time permanent employees. Instead, companies can offer project work for people when they are needed. These contractors can work from anywhere, won’t receive benefits and will save money for the corporations.
Due to globalization, jobs will be moved around the world like chess pieces. If you are a pawn in this game, you’re in trouble. To remain relevant and employed, you need specialized skills that are not easy to learn or replicate.
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The Good News
The good news is that no matter the direction labor marketing is taking, some jobs will increasingly be in demand. Wouldn’t you want to know what jobs that would be? I guess you would. Here are 8 in-demand jobs most companies will be hiring in 2020s.
A report by World Economic Forum, called “The Future of Jobs,” surveyed executives from more than 350 employers across nine industries in 15 of the world’s largest economies to come up with its predictions about how the labor markets will evolve. While the job landscape is expected to undergo radical changes over the next decade, the report predicts that these occupations mentioned in this POST will continue to be in demand.
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1. Data analysts and Scientists
Data analysts will become increasingly more important in all industries by 2020s. Executives said they expect to have a greater demand for data analysts because they will need help to make sense of all of the data generated by technological disruptions.
The take away from this is that insight from Data is the new gold. And the demand for knowledge in the field of data analytics, business intelligence and data science will continue to grow and evolve. If you love numbers, and are analytical, you may want to consider a career in data related fields.
2. Computer and mathematical jobs
Computer and mathematical jobs as a whole will also continue to get a boost. Jobs that fall under the computer and mathematical occupations will grow. These occupations include computer programmers, software developers, information security analysts, and more.
3. Architects and engineering jobs
Architects and engineering jobs will remain stable. Over the next decade, the demand for those skilled in architecture and engineering will continue to increase. Specifically, the WEF report states there will be growth for engineers focused on biochemicals, nanotechnology, robotics, and materials. By 2020, 2 million jobs will be created worldwide that fall under computer and mathematical, architecture and engineering related fields, according to the report.
4. More specialized sales people
As technological advancements continue to disrupt industries, there will be a growing need for specialized sales people who can explain the company’s offerings to a wide range of clients, including businesses, governments, consumers, as well as to new clients that the company has never worked with before.
For example, as content is increasingly consumed on mobile, a digital media company would want to hire sales people who are knowledgeable with the ins and outs of mobile advertising.
5. Senior managers
Senior managers will be needed in industries across the board to lead companies through periods of transformations. Industries ripe for disruption will also need a new type of senior managers to help companies navigate the rough waters of change. Industries that will need these new type of senior managers include media, entertainment, and information.
6. Product designers
Product designers are not going anywhere. One of the top skills that will be in demand by 2020s is creativity. This will occur because while a lot of monotonous jobs can be automated, creative jobs still require a human. One occupation, survey respondents said will be increasingly needed with this skillset will be designers, specifically commercial and industrial designers. These are the people that design and develop products like cars, appliances, gadgets, and other manufactured goods.
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7. Human resources and organizational development specialists
Human resources and organizational development specialists will also be needed to help reskill workers. While technological and socio-economic changes will cause some jobs to disappear completely, there will also be new jobs created and people needed to fill them.
One way companies are planning on dealing with finding the talent needed for new jobs is by training existing employees with new skill sets. In fact, according to the WEF report, 65% of respondents said that they are investing in reskilling current employees.
So development specialists and human resource professionals will be needed not only for hiring in a competitive market, but they will also be needed to help employees develop new skill sets.
8. Regulatory and government relations experts
Demand for regulatory and government relations experts will continue to increase as companies embrace new technologies. As companies adopt and develop emerging technologies, they will also be looking to hire those familiar with how to navigate the legal side of things.
For example, as traditional automakers and tech companies both develop driverless cars, they are also hiring people to understand the relevant laws and to work with government regulators in figuring out the best way to implement the technology.
To succeed in the near future, it would be helpful to have a background in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and coding. If you don’t have these skills, try to find a job or profession that is hard to be replaced by technology. Avoid jobs that could easily be taught to someone else who the company could pay a lower salary to or easily relocated to another country.
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Until next time, YOUR SUCCESS MATTERS!
